DAVID MCGOLDRICK IS eager to make up for lost time and stake his claim for a place in the Ireland team this week.
The Ipswich Town striker has lined out in just five international matches after an impressive debut against the US exactly two years due to a rotten run of injuries which has hampered his progress with the Boys in Green.
Having sat out a large chunk of last season, Nottingham-born McGoldrick battled back to fitness to earn a starting place in the pre-Euro 2016 friendly with the Netherlands, before coming off the bench three days late in the defeat to Belarus.
However, he didn’t done enough to be named in the 23-man squad for France and was informed by Martin O’Neill after the game that night in Cork.
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“It was a low for me, not making the final cut for the squad, but I’ve got to get my head down,” said McGoldrick.
“I always knew that I was an outside chance to make the final cut. I’m a realist — I was up against it to make it. I think I was the last one to be told and it was hard to take but it makes me even more eager.
You know Robbie (Keane) was a legend and with him retiring there might be a space there and I want to be getting in that World Cup squad.
“I’ve had a few injuries at the start of the season and I missed a few trips so I’ve got to impress in training. But there are a few strikers injured for this trip so you never know I might get a few minutes off the bench at the weekend so I have to let them know what I can do.”
As he points out, there are places up for grabs in the striking department with the country’s record goalscorer retired from international football and Shane Long (hamstring) and Daryl Murphy (calf) both missing for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier away to Austria.
That leaves McGoldrick competing with Jon Walters, Adam Rooney, Kevin Doyle and makeshift striker James McClean for a starting berth, with Walters most likely to be selected up front on his own.
“Long has been doing tremendous over the last couple of years and in the last game Murph came on and scored so at the minute they are the strikers really but there are still four good strikers here to choose from,” McGoldrick adds.
He recently sat out two months with an ankle problem picked up on the opening day of the season, but with three games under his belt and a goal to his name, the 28-year-old, who is also comfortable playing in a deeper role, is desperate for another chance to prove his worth.
“I think I can play in a couple of positions — a number nine and maybe a number ten,” he explains. “I played ten but then there were times when I played the whole season as a number nine.
“I feel like I can do both but if I get to put on the jersey, I’ll play any position — there’s no doubt about that.”
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'If I get to put on the jersey, I’ll play any position' - McGoldrick desperate for chance after Euro 2016 heartbreak
DAVID MCGOLDRICK IS eager to make up for lost time and stake his claim for a place in the Ireland team this week.
The Ipswich Town striker has lined out in just five international matches after an impressive debut against the US exactly two years due to a rotten run of injuries which has hampered his progress with the Boys in Green.
Having sat out a large chunk of last season, Nottingham-born McGoldrick battled back to fitness to earn a starting place in the pre-Euro 2016 friendly with the Netherlands, before coming off the bench three days late in the defeat to Belarus.
However, he didn’t done enough to be named in the 23-man squad for France and was informed by Martin O’Neill after the game that night in Cork.
“It was a low for me, not making the final cut for the squad, but I’ve got to get my head down,” said McGoldrick.
“I always knew that I was an outside chance to make the final cut. I’m a realist — I was up against it to make it. I think I was the last one to be told and it was hard to take but it makes me even more eager.
“I’ve had a few injuries at the start of the season and I missed a few trips so I’ve got to impress in training. But there are a few strikers injured for this trip so you never know I might get a few minutes off the bench at the weekend so I have to let them know what I can do.”
As he points out, there are places up for grabs in the striking department with the country’s record goalscorer retired from international football and Shane Long (hamstring) and Daryl Murphy (calf) both missing for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier away to Austria.
That leaves McGoldrick competing with Jon Walters, Adam Rooney, Kevin Doyle and makeshift striker James McClean for a starting berth, with Walters most likely to be selected up front on his own.
“Long has been doing tremendous over the last couple of years and in the last game Murph came on and scored so at the minute they are the strikers really but there are still four good strikers here to choose from,” McGoldrick adds.
He recently sat out two months with an ankle problem picked up on the opening day of the season, but with three games under his belt and a goal to his name, the 28-year-old, who is also comfortable playing in a deeper role, is desperate for another chance to prove his worth.
“I think I can play in a couple of positions — a number nine and maybe a number ten,” he explains. “I played ten but then there were times when I played the whole season as a number nine.
“I feel like I can do both but if I get to put on the jersey, I’ll play any position — there’s no doubt about that.”
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World Cup Qualifiers Europe COYBIG David McGoldrick Euro 2016 Fighting Fit Austria Ipswich Town Ireland Republic Vienna